Term Three Learning Opportunities for Year Seven – Twelve Science

Year Seven

In Year Seven, students are learning about the Solar System, in particular planetary motions and the causes of day and night, the seasons. Students will examine the role of gravity, the phases of the moon, types of eclipses, the tides and create a range of models to help explain their understanding of these processes.
 

Year Eight

Students in Year Eight examined the different states of matter and the changes to the position and energy of particles in each state. They are focusing on using scientific language in their written reports and using critical thinking to create and evaluate their validity and reliability of their experiments.
 

Year Nine

The students in Year Nine have learnt about the difference between atoms, ions, and isotopes. So far, they have identified and described the effect of changing subatomic particles on the charge and mass of atoms. Later in the term they will be conducting a range of experiments, examining types of bonding, and classifying reactions as endothermic or exothermic and practising balancing chemical equations.

Year Ten

In Year Ten, students analysed patterns in the periodic table and used these trends to describe the different properties of metals, and non-metals. Students have furthered their understanding of the different types of bonding, using their knowledge of electron behaviour to classify bonds as ionic, covalent, or metallic. On their return from Camp, they will be conducting a range of chemical reactions and classifying them as oxidative, acid-base, or precipitate reactions.
 

VCE

In VCE Sciences, our Year Twelve students are focusing on their final few school-based assessments before their external examinations early in Term Four. Teachers have been working closely with students to develop and support their study and revision habits ahead of this busy time. 

The Sciences

At Cathedral, we motivate and encourage students to explore how they can apply their mathematical and scientific understanding creatively and efficiently. 

Learning The Sciences is an essential part of any young person’s education, creating opportunities for students to develop not just core subject knowledge but the skills of collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and problem solving – all crucial for action in our personal, social and economic lives. At Cathedral we motivate and encourage students to explore how they can apply their mathematical and scientific understanding creatively and efficiently. Students each complete units in Biology, Physics, Earth Science and Chemistry

Senior students continue to access the power of mathematical and scientific reasoning with a high expectation that all students engage with Mathematics in their VCE. At Year Ten, students study mathematics at their VCE pathway level. This links in closely with Cathedral’s cross-disciplinary curriculum of STEAM subjects and our partnerships with tertiary education providers.